Manipur Enters into the Country’s Organic Map

The main objective of the Manipur Small farmers’ Agri- Business Consortium being to catalyze agro-industrial growth in different parts of the state based on the principle of ecological sustainability, economic efficiency and social equity and to promote programmes for growth and diversification of agriculture and agro based industries to increase food production and export of farm produces in both primary and processed forms. Manipur SFAC started promoting organic farming from the year 2003 to facilitate entering farm produces of Manipur into national and international market. With this vision, as a spade work Manipur Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium and the then Regional Biofertiliser Development Centre (RBDC) Imphal, Manipur had initially started organizing three days State level Workshop cum exhibition on prospects of Organic farming in Manipur during June 2003, under the sponsorship of Ministry of Agriculture ( Natural Resource Management Div.) GOI

As an impact of the above workshop cum exhibition on organic farming we have received huge response from public in particular farming organic farming communities. In the state wide resource mobilization programme undertaken by the by the Consortium; one of the focus topic was on “Organic Farming in Manipur, its concepts and approach”. Manipur SFAC has also sponsored various training programmes on production of organic inputs like composting of farm waste, vermiculture and vermicomposting.

With the launching of the National Centre for Organic Farming, two days training programme on organic inputs was jointly organized with Regional Centre for Organic Farming (RCOF) Imphal and Manipur SFAC from 1_ 2 Dec. 2004. Three field demonstrations were also conducted at different locations viz. (Thoubal and Imphal West) 1. Tairenpokpi, 2 Keithelmanbi 3.Tentha.

Month long advertisement on importance of organic farming through AIR (Rural Programme) and local TV channel sponsored by Manipur SFAC have created immense responds throughout the state in mobilizing organic farming. We have provided services to at least 5 (Five) composite farms owned by Private / NGOS in three districts of Manipur viz. Thoubal, Bishnupur and Imphal East and to about 570 farmers from the 5 districts viz. Thoubal Imphal East, Imphal West and Senapati.

Now with the result of the above activities Manipur SFAC has promoted the First Model contract organic farming of 23 hac. of Turmeric in 2004 financed by SBI, Imphal and 75 ha. Ginger were certified by M/s SKAL International, Bangalore. This certification programme has been promoted by Spices Board of India. All the produces were purchased by two Exporters viz. M/s Organic Foods India Bangalore and M/s Aryan International, New Delhi to the tune of 30 Mt in the form of Sliced dried/Powder by Air lifting from Imphal to Kol. The farm produces have started landing to European and American markets through M/S Organic Foods India, Bangalore & M/S Aryan International New Delhi

In one way to encourage the farmers to switch over to organic farming ststem; Manipur SFAC has initiated promoting creations of retail outlets for organic inputs for organic/ chemical free farm produces for selling at remunerative price.